Lippi rules out supervisor role

Italy's World Cup champion manager Marcello Lippi ruled out a supervisory role with the national team on Thursday.

Reported by Indo-Asian News Service

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Milan:

Italy's World Cup champion manager Marcello Lippi ruled out a supervisory role with the national team on Thursday and gave his backing to new coach Roberto Donadoni.
"I will never be a supervisor of the national team because it is not my profession," Lippi said. "I am sure Donadoni will bring the best out of the players."
Lippi stepped down as boss of Italy after guiding the Azzurri to the World Cup title in July. But his replacement, Donadoni, has yet to win in three games, prompting Italian soccer federation head Guido Rossi to reportedly consider bringing back the former Juventus coach as a supervisor.
Italy lost its first game under Donadoni 2-1 to Croatia in a friendly in August. The World champion's poor form continued with a draw at home to Lithuania and a 3-1 loss to France in its opening qualifying games for the 2008 European Championship earlier this month.
But Lippi supported Donadoni despite Italy's results.
"I respect him a lot," Lippi said. "I am convinced that he will establish a bond with the players. This group will start to play well again."
Lippi, who previously has mentioned of a return to club coaching, said that he was in no hurry to get back to work.
"At the moment I am still enjoying the aftermath of the World Cup, which I believe will last a bit of time yet," Lippi said. "I have received calls from non-Italian clubs, but I didn't go to speak with the directors."
Lippi was touted as a possible successor to Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson during the World Cup, but denied the reports at the time, saying that his English wasn't good enough.
However the 58-year-old has been taking language lessons.
"At the moment, my English is a little bit better," Lippi said. (AP)